Elmira, N.Y. – Keystone College's men's basketball team earning its first win of the season in thrilling fashion on Saturday afternoon, defeating host Elmira College 108-105 in overtime in the first round of the Soaring Eagles' Tip-Off Tournament. The Giants (1-1) will take on Hamilton College, a 75-69 winner over Oswego State in Saturday's other opening night contest, in the championship game of the tournament on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
Elmira (0-2), who overcame a 20-point first half deficit to force overtime on Saturday, will meet Oswego State in Sunday's consolation game at 2:00 p.m.
The Soaring Eagles claimed a 13-9 lead over the opening five and a half minutes of Saturday's contest before Keystone used a 31-7 surge to claim a 40-20 advantage with 7:17 remaining in the first half. Elmira battled back by outscoring the Giants 22-6 over the final seven minutes of the period to cut Keystone's lead to 46-42 at halftime.
Elmira briefly went in front 1:40 into the second half after completely overcoming Keystone's 20-point advantage, but
John Kirkpatrick (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) put the Giants back in front on the team's next trip down the floor. Keystone held the lead until the Soaring Eagles used a 10-0 spurt to claim a 66-62 edge with 8:23 left in regulation.
Perry Belcher (Orlando, Fla./Colonial) put the Giants back in front, 84-82, with a layup at the 1:34 mark and Keystone claimed a five-point lead when
Michael Leak (Cleveland, Ohio/Leon) drained a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left, but Elmira would not go quietly, forcing overtime with the game deadlocked at 91-91 with a game-tying three-pointer with 11 seconds sowing on the clock.
The teams traded the lead early in the extra period before
Jalen Flynn (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) connected on a three-pointer with 1:57 remaining to give Keystone a 104-100 advantage. Elmira countered with the next five points to take a 105-104 edge on a three-pointer of their own at the 1:06 mark, but Kirkpatrick put the Giants back in front for good on a lay-in with 43 ticks left on the clock before Leak converted two more free throws with 11 seconds remaining to close out the victory.
Austin Smith (Titusville, Fla./Florida Air Academy) led four Keystone players in double-figures with 22 points while Flynn tallied 19 points. Belcher contributed 13 points while Kirkpatrick added a double-double on 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Giants, who held a 52-44 advantage in rebounding for the game.
Mark Gilliam (Philadelphia, Pa./High School of the Future) led all players with eight assists and tied for a game-high with three steals for the Keystone, who connected on 48.7 percent of their attempts from the field for the game including a 42.3 percent showing from long distance while converting 62.2 percent of their free throw attempts.
Henry Cuffee and Jeremy Every totaled 23 points apiece for Elmira with Cuffee pulling down a team-best 10 boards. Justin Porrett (18), Jesse Aldeson (18), and Hayden Harkins (15) also reached double-figures for the Soaring Eagles, who shot 44.4 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 66.7 percent from the charity stripe in the loss.
